David Poulsen, for TD Canadian Children's Book Week in Montreal

TD Canadian Children's Book Week is the single most important national event celebrating Canadian children's books and the importance of reading.

TD Canadian Children's Book Week is organized by the Canadian Children's Book Centre.

Last night we YesOui Canscaip enjoyed a visit from David Poulsen .

David A. Poulsen has been a rock singer, high school football coach, stage and film actor, rodeo commentator, documentary television writer and host, college English instructor, and… most of all—a writer.

With 21 books to his credit, David’s writing career began in earnest in 1984 when his short story “The Welcomin’” won the Alberta Culture Short Story Writing Competition.

Besides his accomplishments this author told our group that he is concerned with the forces of our society and how they are impacting our young people (kids). I was particularly touched with his account of his book "Sam's Cage".

Sam’s Cage is the remarkable story of fifteen-year-old Eddie Slater. Already labeled a young offender, Eddie runs away from an abusive step-father and takes up residence at the Calgary Zoo. There he meets Jack, a middle-aged man who has been coming to the zoo’s playground every day for thirty-two years to watch the children. Convinced that Jack is either a pervert or just plain weird, Eddie follows him home one day, and eventually breaks into his house to see what he can find. He discovers more than he bargained for—and that discovery changes both Eddie and Jack for good.

As part of his research for this book, he did some difficult things. He had himself locked up in a center for young offenders; spent time with street kids who were young offenders, and spoke with adults who once were young offenders. Included in this story is some historical research about the character named Jack, a true story that took place some 50 years ago in Calgary.

He did this because getting the voice right in a book is very important. You have to know what their life is like.

About his writing process:

He has a target word count of 1000 words per day, 300 out of 365 days a year. That's about 4 pages, not necessarily "finished" words, but written nonetheless. Sometimes that can take up to 8 hours. Because he lives on a ranch, he begins his day with his chores, breakfast, and then to the computer.

He was very generous with his presentation, and his time. Thank you very much Mr. Poulsen!

Thursday, Nov. 19 @ 7 p.m.

David Poulsen, Alberta author for kids and teens
QFHSA Office (3285 Cavendish Blvd, Suite #560, Montreal)
Hosted by Quebec Federation of Home and School Associations
Open to adults
RSVP/INFO: 514-481-5619 OR 514-738-3413